NATCHITOCHES, LA —
Natchitoches Parish Sherrif's Office is on the search for an escaped inmate.

The inmate is Derrick L. Evans, a 29 year-old black male. He is described as 5 feet - 11 inches tall, weighing 158 pounds, bald, with brown eyes and a medium complexion and tattoos on his left arm, right arm and neck. He was last seen wearing blue denim jeans and a detention center light-blue shirt.

Evans is serving time for attempted manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony.

Thursday night at approximately 5:00 p.m., corrections staff at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center discovered Evans was not present for count time, according to Natchitoches Parish Detention Center Chief of Corrections Deputy Calvin McFerrin.

An immediate search was conducted and it was confirmed that Evans was missing from his work crew assignment on the farm of the detention center.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office is currently investigating leads to his whereabouts.

Nearby Northwestern State University sent a Purple Alert to students, faculty and staff this morning to be on the look out for anything suspicious.

An "all clear" was erroneously sent earlier this morning, casuing some confusion on campus. University administration are looking into why that message was sent. The official "all clear" has not happened, according to their website[2].

Evans is considered by Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office to be "dangerous."

If you see Evans, do not approach him. Contact 911 immediately, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318) 352-6432, Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or your local law enforcement agency.